Electric-switch clip



H. E. LEPPERT ELECTRIC SWITCH CLIP May 5, 1925.

Filed Nov. 27, 1923 Patented May 5, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. LEPPERT, on NEW remain. CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR 'ro THE TRUMBULLELECTRIC MANUFACTUBING' COMPANY, or PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A Con:

PORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC-SWITCH CLIP.

Application filed November To all 1071 0771 it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. Lnrrnwr; a citizen of the United States ofAmerici, residing at New Britain. Hartford County, Connecticut, haveinvented a new and use- 'ful Electric-Switch Clip, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to what is commonly termed a clip forakni-i'e blade switch and the method and process ofinalting the same. Inthis type of construction there is commonly employed a base plate havingtwo jaw members between which the knife blade is adapted to move. Thesame construction is used both. for the pivoted or hinged end of theblade and for what is commonly termed the contact for the blade: It hasbeen customary to solder or braze these jaw members to the baseplate.The soldering or brazing operation is not only expensive when properlydone but is not entirely satisfactory since it is likely to leave excessmetal which must be carefully removed from the clips before they aremounted on the base. Also solderedclips sometimes become loosened incaserthe switch is operated frequently or carelessly or in case theclips are overheated through an excessive electrical current.

The main object of my invention is to properly secure the "partstogeth-erpat a minimum expense. Another object is to provide aconstruction in which the parts are rigidly and pern'lanently securedtogether without the use oi solder or brazing material or separaterivets or fastening devices.

In carrying out my invention the blades are assembled in slots in thebase plate and united by an upsetting or expanding action. An opening isprovided through the base plate and between the blades for an anchor agescrew.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the clip made according to myinventiomthe section being taken on the plane of the line 11 of Figs. 2and 3.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the plane of the line 2--2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the assembled clip.

27, 1923. Serial No. 677,246.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the parts before assembly.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the clip .in the assemblingdies.

Fig. is a side view of a forming punch.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the ends of the jaw members. a o

The base plate 6 and jaws 7 are usually formed of copper or alloy ofhigh copper content.

The base plate is provided with two slots 8 adapted to receive the ends9of the aws. The jaws are notched at their bottom ends to provideshoulders 1(l10 on opposite edges. The ends 9 are designed to tit in theslots 8 and the shoulders 10 abut against the upper surfaces of theplate 6. The" plate 6 is also provided with a slot 11 Which connects theslots 8--8 and leaves projecting tongues 12-12.

hen the jaws are assembled in the plate they are inserted in a suitabledie 13 where they are properly supported. A punch member 14 is thenforced into the opening 11 bet-ween the jaw extensions 9-9 and the plateor tongues extensions 12-12.

The punch is provided with a leader portion 145, a shoulder 16 andlateral shoulders 16 and the lateral shoulders are further provided.with notch-forming projections 14.

The single operation 0? forcing this punch through the parts in thismanner produces severalv'ery useful results as follows:

First: The leader portion oil the punch forces the plate extensions 9-9outwardly into intimate contact with the adjacent metal of the baseblock to form a permanently fixed and reliable electrical joint.

Second: In its continued movement the leader forms grooves 1515 in theplates 9 9 to receive a tap Without further preparation.

Third: The lateral shoulders 16 of the punch swage or spread out thetongues 12'12 of the base plate between the extensions 9-9 of the clipsso as to entirely close up the opening and make a positive electricalconnection as well as to further secure the parts together.

Fourth: The shoulder 16 of the punch heads over the central portion ofthe clip extensions and countersinks the edge of the tap hole whichcountersink greatly assists in entering a tap and also completelyobviates the necessity of removing any burrs after the tapping operationis completed.

Fifth: The forcing of the blunt leader portion of the punch into themetal in this manner hardens the adjacent metal so that it can be moreeasily tapped than regular commercial stock.

Sixth: In the final operating position, the notch forming projections 14of the punch throw out the projections 19-19 into the adjacent metal ofthe base plate to prevent loosening of the clip plates through a rockingmotion of the clips.

Throwing out the projections 1919 in this manner also draws theshoulders 10l0 of the clip plate into positive engagement with thesurface of the base plate thus making a perfect mechanical andelectrical connection.

From the preceding it is clear that the single assembling operationsecures the parts rigidly together, closes up the slot opening to make apractical and dependable electrical joint, forms a tapping recess andcountersinks the tapping recess thus completing an assembled switch clipwithout the use of solder, pins or further operations.

After the parts have thus been assembled they may be provided with screwthreads 20 which cut into the edges of the projections 12-12 and intothe inner faces of the jaws.

It will also be seen that the clips and the base are secured together asa unit solely by means of expanding and upsetting integral portions ofthe respective members which entirely avoids the necessity for usingpins, rivets or other fastening means.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a. solderless switch clip which comprisesassembling the ends of two jaws in a base plate between spaced tonguesand then forming grooves in the adjacent faces of the jaws and expandingthe jaw ends in said plate and spreading the tongues against the jaws inorder to hold the parts together.

2. The method of forming a solderless switch clip which comprisesinserting shouldered jaws into a slotted base plate, then forminggrooves in the adjacent faces of the jaws and spreading the jaws in thebase plate and staking the ends of the jaws at the back of the baseplate.

3. The method of forming a solderless switch clip which comprisesinserting jaws into spaced slots in a base plate, forcing a punchthrough said base plate and between the jaws and drawing the metal toform grooves between the jaws, and then screw threading the walls of thegrooves.

4. The method of forming a switch clip which comprises inserting jawsinto spaced slots in a base plate, forcing a punch through said baseplate and between the jaws and drawing the metal to form grooves betweenthe jaws, upsetting part of the end of each jaw to rivet the partstogether, and then screw threading the walls of the grooves.

5. A solderless switch clip including a baseplate having slots andtongues between the slots and jaw plates inserted in said slots andexpanded therein, the said jaw plates having integral portions upsetadjacent the said slots to secure the said plates in position and saidtongues being spread to grip said jaw plates.

6. A solderless switch clip including a base plate having slots thereinand jaw plates in said slots, the said jaw plates being expanded in saidslots to electrically and mechanically bond the said base plate and saidjaw plates.

7. A switch clip including a base plate having slots and jaw plates insaid slots, the metal of the respective members being expanded withrespect to the complementary members to permanently secure the memberstogether as a unit.

HENRY E. LEPPERT.

